Residents and business owners on Booths Lane in Great Barr, Birmingham, are voicing frustration over the council’s recent installation of speed bumps, which have been placed directly adjacent to numerous potholes. Locals argue that these traffic calming measures not only fail to cover the entire half-mile stretch of the road but also do little to reduce speeding vehicles.
Tony Farmer, who has operated Tony Scissors Hair Studio for many years on Booths Lane, is among those expressing dissatisfaction. He pointed out that despite the new speed bumps, potholes continue to scar the carriageway — with one section alone revealing four significant potholes right next to the raised bumps.
“I haven’t seen them slow down any traffic,” said Tony. “I think it’s a waste of money — we pay for this as taxpayers, yet it isn’t doing the job. The council says it has no money, but here we are, funding something ineffective.”
READ MORE: Reform UK Accuses Dudley Council of Exclusion and ‘Grubby Deal’ in Committee Appointments
READ MORE: Tourists Missing Out on Kinver’s Charming High Street While Visiting Iconic West Midlands Landmark
Tony also suggested a better solution would have been to install speed bumps fully across the road with less spacing between them, rather than the current uneven coverage.
The issue has sparked heated debates on social media, with residents divided but many criticizing the council’s priorities. Annabel Wall Smith posted, “Wish they’d fix the potholes before putting in speed bumps.” Nigel Jarvis added, “It’s a joke — repair the road first, then put the speed bumps in. No wonder the city is in trouble.”
Birmingham City Council installed the speed bumps after consultations last year, responding to longstanding concerns about dangerous speeding on Booths Lane and nearby Sandy Lane. Local campaigners Alex Hall and Charlotte Whitehouse had been advocating for measures to improve safety.
Commenting on the campaign, Alex Hall said in a March update, “We’ve been pushing for speed bumps on Booths Lane and Sandy Lane for a long time, especially around Booths Farm where speeding is a major issue.”
The council emphasized that the speed bumps are part of a separate traffic calming scheme and not related to pothole repairs, which fall under highway maintenance responsibilities. A spokesperson explained, “We assess all highway defects with a risk matrix to ensure safety and a proportionate repair response. Since early 2026, there has been a significant increase in repair demands.”
They added that the traffic calming project is independent of routine maintenance and that teams are working swiftly to address defects based on safety risk and road conditions. “We will continue to monitor the road and take appropriate action when issues meet intervention criteria,” the spokesperson said.
Despite assurances, residents remain frustrated that potholes continue to blight the road while resources have been allocated to speed bumps they feel are ineffective.